Now I know a lot of moms out there are blogging about body after baby, and here I am, no real exception but this article isn’t going to give you some new and alternative insight into this common dilemma, just me, blogging about my own personal experience…and sharing my personal truths.

After having two children via C-section, the journey to get my body back to some sort of normal has literally been a rollercoaster battle. It was very difficult after baby #1, but sometimes I find it near impossible after baby #2. Babies just change bodies forever and from my perspective it seems that some, not all, of those changes stay forever no matter the diet, no matter the exercise. Shirts and pants just fit differently, skin feels and looks different, many body parts pushed to their limits. As a mom with self-esteem issues I struggle looking in the mirror and I definitely struggle getting dressed. I can’t tell you the last time I put on just one outfit and was good to go. Since my second baby I have been working out pretty regularly and maintaining healthy eating habits. I indulge from time to time, but for the most part follow something close to weight watchers minus most carbohydrates. I know my body at this point and I see more differences when I stay low carb. This is not easy at all and there are times when I fall off the wagon for a meal or even an entire day. Typically though I have noticed that having a bad day once in a while will not totally sabotage your progress and besides….everyone needs to have those days otherwise you feel totally restricted. The bonus I have this time around is a boot camp I have joined (LBD, Montville Adventure Boot Camp for Women ). It’s mostly circuit driven which gives the body a nice cardio boost and since it’s circuit you aren’t doing one move for more than 30 seconds… and I mean anyone can sustain something for 30 seconds in my opinion (with the exception of jumping jacks, those just make me have to pee and for all us moms out there, you know what I mean!). But the real bonus here is that there are other moms and women that take the boot camp as well so it gives you a chance to for 1) not feel bad about your post baby body because others are in that same boat 2) you can talk to other women about your babies or kids and there are some common interests and 3) we can b*tch about our husbands in a safe zone! So for me, it doesn’t feel like a workout, it feels like I am hanging out with girlfriends only this time we have replaced wine with cardio.This is the major difference in my working out this time around has helped me keep with the program. During my journey post baby #1, I was hardcore for a month, somewhat active for another month, and hardly at all forthe month to follow, and then starting all over again. The inconsistency was messing everything up and I was getting more than discouraged. This community has helped me both mentally and physically. It’s also something I can call my own and am doing for myself, and it’s healthy! Who can really beat that?

So if I can give any advice to other mom’s trying desperately to regain their bodies I would say, let’s stop putting so much pressure on ourselves and understand this is a process in action (easier said than done, I know!), let’s try to love ourselves also because we did quite literally bring a miracle into reality, and let’s try to combine our work outs with other moms and women who can support us along the way. This makes a difference so you feel like you aren’t fighting this battle alone. These are my truths and these have kept me going solid for 6 months post pardem. Trust me, if I can do it (former smoker, former unhealthy eater, formal stationary person in general) you can too!